This is what I’d call interdisciplinary education.

Two days ago, video- and film-maker Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) expressed his mind at a free public lecture at MIT. As a follow-up in the not-too-distant future, he’ll come back as an artist-in-residence “to visit classes and labs, investigate research on sleep and memory, give workshops and share meals with faculty, staff and students.” I hope screenwriter Charlie Kaufman will drop by for a visit.

I’ve been a huge fan of the movie ever since I saw it, for many reasons. I taught a class on the film at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond just a few weeks ago and came away more excited about it than ever. From the perspective of information technologies, the film reveals even more layers of meaning. I’m looking forward to seeing it again.

Is the Massachussetts Institute of Technology the newest liberal arts powerhouse?

(Thanks to Vanessa Bertozzi at MIT’s Technology Review for the initial link.)